Poland's National Labour Inspectorate clarifies heatwave work rights

The Polish National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) has clarified that employees may stop working during extreme heat if conditions pose a direct threat to health or life, without requiring prior approval from an employer.

Under Article 210 of the Labor Code, the decision rests with the employee. While they must immediately inform their supervisor of the intent to stop working, they do not need to wait for permission. Karolina Główczyńska-Woelke, director of the Supervision and Control Department, stated, “It is the employee who assesses whether the threat is real enough that they must stop working.”

Employees are entitled to full pay for the time spent refraining from duties under these circumstances. While there is no fixed maximum temperature threshold set by law for summer conditions, the primary criterion is the existence of a direct threat to safety or health.